Indonesian fashion is gaining greater exposure across Asia. In October 2026, JF3 Fashion Festival brought several Indonesian designers and fashion labels to South Korea through B-Fashion x M8 Showroom in Seoul and Busan Fashion Week in Busan.
The participation featured LAKON Indonesia, SOFIE, Adrie Basuki, and Hartono Gan. Their collections showcased a range of design approaches, from batik and traditional craftsmanship to contemporary clothing that blends heritage with urban lifestyles.
The initiative also builds on JF3’s growing relationship with South Korea’s fashion industry. This collaboration began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Busan Metropolitan Government in 2025.
Through these events, JF3 aims to connect Indonesian designers with buyers and industry players, creating opportunities for partnerships and greater access to the Asian market.
Bringing Indonesian Designs to Seoul and Busan
The programme began with B-Fashion x M8 Showroom, held from 24 to 26 October 2026 at About Project Lounge, Lotte World Tower, Seoul. LAKON Indonesia, SOFIE, and Adrie Basuki presented their collections to visitors and members of South Korea’s fashion industry.
Adrie Basuki brought back Jantung Nadi, a collection previously showcased at BRI JF3 Fashion Festival 2026. Comprising 12 looks, it explores themes of life, hope, and the importance of heart health through a combination of Batik Jantung Nadi, Kain Marmer, and Kain Benang. Adrie also applies a circular fashion approach by transforming textile remnants into new materials.
Meanwhile, SOFIE introduced its new collection, INTERSECT, which brings together traditional elements and urban lifestyles. Linen, semi-wool, cotton, and batik are transformed into modern, functional pieces that translate local identity into designs suited to younger consumers.
LAKON Indonesia highlighted craftsmanship as a defining element of its brand identity. Through batik, embroidery, and other Indonesian handcraft techniques, the label demonstrated how traditional skills can be reinterpreted through contemporary design for international markets.
The journey continued at Busan Fashion Week on 29 October 2026 at BEXCO (Busan Exhibition and Convention Center). This time, LAKON Indonesia and SOFIE returned alongside Hartono Gan.
LAKON Indonesia presented HARSA, a 20-look collection marking eight years of the brand's journey in celebrating the work of Indonesian artisans. Derived from Sanskrit, the word HARSA means happiness. The collection pays tribute to batik makers, embroiderers, tailors, and everyone involved in bringing each creation to life.
Under the creative direction of Irsan, the collection combines Indonesian batik and hand embroidery with cotton, satin, and organza. Its lighter, more elegant silhouettes bring traditional craftsmanship into contemporary everyday dressing.
For LAKON Indonesia, Busan is not an entirely new stage. The label previously participated in Busan Fashion Week on 31 October 2025, followed by its appearance at HiSeoul Showroom in November that year. Its return in 2026 with HARSA marks another step in building lasting connections with South Korea’s fashion industry.
Hartono Gan also introduced HEARTBEAT, a 12-look collection inspired by 1990s aesthetics and the designer’s early memories of the fashion world. Shirts, silk jackets, smart-casual trousers, and gender-neutral suits are presented through clean, minimalist, and classic silhouettes.
SOFIE brought INTERSECT to the Busan runway as well. The collection explores the intersection of tradition and modernity, culture and street culture, as well as structure and freedom through a youthful visual language.
Founder of LAKON Indonesia, Thresia Mareta, described each presentation as part of a collection’s ongoing journey. After its debut at JF3 Fashion Festival and a closer presentation through a re-see at Teras Lakon, HARSA is now being introduced to an international audience.
“Each presentation is part of a journey for us. [...] Now, we are bringing it to Busan to share the same story with a wider audience,” Thresia said.
From Fashion Showcases to Market Opportunities
Most of the collections presented in South Korea were developed or restyled from pieces previously showcased at JF3 Fashion Festival 2026. This approach allows designers to introduce their existing work to new audiences while adapting its presentation to different markets and international platforms.
Thresia, who also serves as an Advisor to JF3 Fashion Festival, sees international showcases as valuable opportunities for designers to grow their brands. However, she emphasised that these opportunities must be followed by efforts to build relationships and expand market reach.
“JF3 Fashion Festival is here to create pathways and opportunities for designers and brands to grow. However, each designer and brand must make use of these opportunities, develop them, and take them further,” she said.
Meanwhile, JF3 Chairman Soegianto Nagaria highlighted the importance of consistent support in strengthening the fashion industry. He noted that JF3 seeks to connect designers’ creativity with business opportunities and broader market access.
“JF3 strives to connect designers’ creativity with business opportunities and broader market access,” Soegianto said.
The festival’s presence in Seoul and Busan is part of this effort to strengthen ties with South Korean industry players while introducing the potential of Indonesian fashion to a wider audience.
The initiative also reflects the overarching theme of JF3 Fashion Festival 2026, RECRAFTED: Shaping the Future. The theme emphasises the importance of reworking creative potential, craftsmanship, and cultural identity to keep them relevant in a changing fashion industry.
Through its participation in South Korea, JF3 demonstrates how designs rooted in Indonesia’s cultural heritage can evolve through innovation and cross-border collaboration. The relationships built through these events are expected to create further opportunities for Indonesian designers to reach regional markets and strengthen the country’s position in the international fashion industry.
